Retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus

Abstract

A retractable self rolling blind, awning or cover apparatus (11), comprising two or more sheets of fabric or other suitable material (17) affixed and wound conjointly about a keyway tube (12), the tube (12) being fitted with a conventional spring mechanism for use with blinds, awnings and the like, the spring mechanism being pretensioned so as to cause the sheets of fabric (17) to be rewound about the keyway tube (12) when one or more of the sheets of fabric (17) is released from its extended or unwound position, and wherein the keyway tube (12) and spring are allowed to travel unwinding and winding up of the fabric (17).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to self-rolling apparatus based on a conventional spring mechanism for items such as blinds, awnings and covers. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited thereto and any similar arrangement whereby the invention maybe suitably adapted is meant to be encompassed including advertising signs and the like. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Conventional spring blinds are provided with a so-called hollow keyway tube onto which one end of suitable blind fabric or other material is attached, the remainder of the material being wrapped or rolled around the periphery of the tube. A spring mechanism is provided within the hollow tube, which is itself supported between suitable brackets. The blind fabric maybe caused to unroll for any desired length (up to the limit of material rolled on the tube), usually by pulling on it, which causes the tube to rotate about it's axis, thereby winding up (ie. further tensioning) the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or at least ameliorate some or all of the foregoing disadvantages by providing an improved retractable rolling apparatus, relying in principle on the use of more than one sheet of material (and especially two sheets) rolled about a keyway tube of an otherwise conventional spring type blind or awning mechanism, each of the sheets extending generally (but not necessarily) in opposite directions, so that in the case of two sheets of material pulled in opposite directions, the span of extended material is effectively doubled for each revolution of the tube, when compared with a single sheet.

[0006] In this way, the span covered by a particular size of spring mechanism may itself be effectively doubled. This follows from the fact that the spring is twisted by the rotation of the tube. For a given number of revolutions of the tube, double the coverage will be achieved. It will of course be appreciated that compared with conventional spring blind mechanism in which the keyway tube and spring remains supported between fixed brackets, the keyway tube in the present invention is free to travel as the self rolling apparatus is unwound, the free end of one fabric portion itself being securely anchored or attached (instead of the spring and keyway tube being held in a fixed location as in a conventional arrangement).

Problems solved by technology

In such situations however, especially in horizontal arrangements such as pool covers or external awnings, there is a limit to the useful span of cover which could be conveniently achieved (ie.

This of course means more difficulty of operation, as it becomes necessary to pull against increasing tension of larger springs over greater lengths of material required to be unrolled.

Hence there are no known solutions for covering larger expanses.

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